the works of edgar allan poe-1-第13章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of an attempt so apparently audacious in conception； and； at all
events； so utterly unparalleled in the annals of mankind。
〃Having attained the altitude before mentioned； that is to say three
miles and three…quarters； I threw out from the car a quantity of
feathers； and found that I still ascended with sufficient rapidity；
there was； therefore； no necessity for discharging any ballast。 I was
glad of this； for I wished to retain with me as much weight as I
could carry； for reasons which will be explained in the sequel。 I as
yet suffered no bodily inconvenience； breathing with great freedom；
and feeling no pain whatever in the head。 The cat was lying very
demurely upon my coat； which I had taken off； and eyeing the pigeons
with an air of nonchalance。 These latter being tied by the leg； to
prevent their escape； were busily employed in picking up some grains
of rice scattered for them in the bottom of the car。
〃At twenty minutes past six o'clock； the barometer showed an
elevation of 26；400 feet； or five miles to a fraction。 The prospect
seemed unbounded。 Indeed； it is very easily calculated by means of
spherical geometry； what a great extent of the earth's area I beheld。
The convex surface of any segment of a sphere is； to the entire
surface of the sphere itself； as the versed sine of the segment to
the diameter of the sphere。 Now； in my case； the versed sine that
is to say； the thickness of the segment beneath me was about equal
to my elevation； or the elevation of the point of sight above the
surface。 〃As five miles； then； to eight thousand；〃 would express the
proportion of the earth's area seen by me。 In other words； I beheld
as much as a sixteen…hundredth part of the whole surface of the
globe。 The sea appeared unruffled as a mirror； although； by means of
the spy…glass； I could perceive it to be in a state of violent
agitation。 The ship was no longer visible； having drifted away；
apparently to the eastward。 I now began to experience； at intervals；
severe pain in the head； especially about the ears still； however；
breathing with tolerable freedom。 The cat and pigeons seemed to
suffer no inconvenience whatsoever。
〃At twenty minutes before seven； the balloon entered a long series of
dense cloud； which put me to great trouble； by damaging my condensing
apparatus and wetting me to the skin。 This was； to be sure； a
singular recontre； for I had not believed it possible that a cloud of
this nature could be sustained at so great an elevation。 I thought it
best； however； to throw out two five…pound pieces of ballast；
reserving still a weight of one hundred and sixty…five pounds。 Upon
so doing； I soon rose above the difficulty； and perceived
immediately； that I had obtained a great increase in my rate of
ascent。 In a few seconds after my leaving the cloud； a flash of vivid
lightning shot from one end of it to the other； and caused it to
kindle up； throughout its vast extent； like a mass of ignited and
glowing charcoal。 This； it must be remembered； was in the broad light
of day。 No fancy may picture the sublimity which might have been
exhibited by a similar phenomenon taking place amid the darkness of
the night。 Hell itself might have been found a fitting image。 Even as
it was； my hair stood on end； while I gazed afar down within the
yawning abysses； letting imagination descend； as it were； and stalk
about in the strange vaulted halls； and ruddy gulfs； and red ghastly
chasms of the hideous and unfathomable fire。 I had indeed made a
narrow escape。 Had the balloon remained a very short while longer
within the cloud that is to say had not the inconvenience of
getting wet； determined me to discharge the ballast； inevitable ruin
would have been the consequence。 Such perils； although little
considered； are perhaps the greatest which must be encountered in
balloons。 I had by this time； however； attained too great an
elevation to be any longer uneasy on this head。
〃I was now rising rapidly； and by seven o'clock the barometer
indicated an altitude of no less than nine miles and a half。 I began
to find great difficulty in drawing my breath。 My head； too； was
excessively painful； and； having felt for some time a moisture about
my cheeks； I at length discovered it to be blood； which was oozing
quite fast from the drums of my ears。 My eyes； also； gave me great
uneasiness。 Upon passing the hand over them they seemed to have
protruded from their sockets in no inconsiderable degree； and all
objects in the car； and even the balloon itself； appeared distorted
to my vision。 These symptoms were more than I had expected； and
occasioned me some alarm。 At this juncture； very imprudently； and
without consideration； I threw out from the car three five…pound
pieces of ballast。 The accelerated rate of ascent thus obtained；
carried me too rapidly； and without sufficient gradation； into a
highly rarefied stratum of the atmosphere； and the result had nearly
proved fatal to my expedition and to myself。 I was suddenly seized
with a spasm which lasted for more than five minutes； and even when
this； in a measure； ceased； I could catch my breath only at long
intervals； and in a gasping manner bleeding all the while
copiously at the nose and ears； and even slightly at the eyes。 The
pigeons appeared distressed in the extreme； and struggled to escape；
while the cat mewed piteously； and； with her tongue hanging out of
her mouth； staggered to and fro in the car as if under the influence
of poison。 I now too late discovered the great rashness of which I
had been guilty in discharging the ballast； and my agitation was
excessive。 I anticipated nothing less than death； and death in a few
minutes。 The physical suffering I underwent contributed also to
render me nearly incapable of making any exertion for the
preservation of my life。 I had； indeed； little power of reflection
left； and the violence of the pain in my head seemed to be greatly on
the increase。 Thus I found that my senses would shortly give way
altogether； and I had already clutched one of the valve ropes with
the view of attempting a descent； when the recollection of the trick
I had played the three creditors； and the possible consequences to
myself； should I return； operated to deter me for the moment。 I lay
down in the bottom of the car； and endeavored to collect my
faculties。 In this I so far succeeded as to determine upon the
experiment of losing blood。 Having no lancet； however； I was
constrained to perform the operation in the best manner I was able；
and finally succeeded in opening a vein in my right arm； with the
blade of my penknife。 The blood had hardly commenced flowing when I
experienced a sensible relief； and by the time I had lost about half
a moderate basin full； most of the worst symptoms had abandoned me
entirely。 I nevertheless did not think it expedient to attempt
getting on my feet immediately； but； having tied up my arm as well as
I could； I lay still for about a quarter of an hour。 At the end of
this time I arose； and found myself freer from absolute pain of any
kind than I had been during the last hour and a quarter of my
ascension。 The difficulty of breathing； however； was diminished in a
very slight degree； and I found that it would soon be positively
necessary to make use of my condenser。 In the meantime； looking
toward the cat； who was again snugly stowed away upon my coat； I
discovered to my infinite surprise； that she had taken the
opportunity of my indisposition to bring into light a litter of three
little kittens。 This was an addition to the number of passengers on
my part altogether unexpected； but I was pleased at the occurrence。
It would afford me a chance of bringing to a kind of test the truth
of a surmise； which； more than anything else； had influenced me in
attempting this ascension。 I had imagined that the habitual endurance
of the atmospheric pressure at the surface of the earth was the
cause； or nearly so； of the pain attending animal existence at a
distance above the surface。 Should the kittens be found to suffer
uneasiness in an equal d
